Parallel surfae jig

ABSTRACT

A device for orienting a work surface of a workpiece. The device has a holding means having a receiving surface generally parallel to a plane of reference. The device also has a pulling means for orienting the work surface of the workpiece to the receiving surface of the holding means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many tools and workpieces work better when sharp, and tend to become dull with use over time. Sharpening is an important task in the maintenance of tools and workpieces, especially dies. After tools and workpieces are developed and set up for use in manufacturing or metal stamping, care must be taken to ensure a consistent work product and to maintain tolerances. Trial and error, such as nudging back and forth, is a common yet unsatisfactory means of setting up a work piece for a machining operation and maintaining tolerances. The trial and error method of set up produces inconsistent and unreliable results. It is preferable to orient a work piece to a known or fixed reference. There is a long-felt need for an improved means to sharpen or maintain tools and workpieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above advantages as well as other advantages not specifically enumerated are achieved by a device for orienting a work surface of a workpiece. The device has a holding means having a receiving surface generally parallel to a plane of reference. The device has a pulling means for orienting the work surface of the workpiece to the receiving surface of the holding means.

There is also provided a method of sharpening a workpiece including providing a holding means having a receiving surface generally parallel to a plane of reference. The method includes providing a pulling means for orienting the work surface of the workpiece to the receiving surface of the holding means, wherein the work surface of the workpiece is sharpened.

There is also provided a device for orienting a work surface of a workpiece having a holding means having a receiving surface generally parallel to a plane of reference. The device also has holding region on the holding means. The device has a pulling means for orienting the work surface of the workpiece to the receiving surface of the holding means.

Various advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in elevation of a parallel surface jig in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of the base of the parallel surface jig shown in FIG. 1, viewed along line 2-2 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a plan top view of the base shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end view in elevation of the base shown in FIG. 2 viewed along line 44 of FIG. 3 with a groove.

FIG. 5 is a plan top view of the arm of the parallel surface jig shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view in elevation of the arm shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 a side view in elevation of an alternate embodiment of the arm shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a side view in elevation of the parallel surface jig shown in FIG. 1 with a workpiece secured to the arm of the parallel surface jig.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 with the workpiece secured to a sine vise.

FIG. 9 is an end view in elevation similar to FIG. 8 with the workpiece secured to a sine vise.

FIG. 10 is a side view in elevation of the workpiece positioned under a grinding wheel.

FIG. 11 is a side view in elevation of the workpiece operatively connected to a holder and the parallel surface jig shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preliminarily, it should be noted that certain terms used herein, such as for example “left”, “right”, “above”, and “below”, are used to facilitate the description of the invention. Unless otherwise specified or made apparent by the context of the discussion, such terms and other directional terms should be interpreted with reference to the figure(s) under discussion. Such terms are not intended as a limitation on the position in which the invention or components may be used. Indeed, it is contemplated that the components of the invention may be easily positioned in any desired orientation for use. Likewise, numerical terms such as for example “first”, and “second” are not intended as a limitation or to imply a sequence, unless otherwise specified or made apparent by the context of the discussion.

One use of this invention is to establish a parallel plane for which to reference a workpiece. This is useful to eliminate an undesirable angle on the workpiece, such as for example on the top surface of the workpiece. The term “workpiece” is understood to include something that has been, or is in the process of being processed, worked on or manufactured. The workpiece may be a tool that has been, or is in the process of being sharpened. The term “tool” is understood to include something (such as for example an instrument or apparatus) used in performing an operation or task. The invention is useful in facilitating the transfer of parallelism. The invention is useful in orienting the work-surface of the workpiece at a desired angle. More specifically, the invention is useful in orienting a dull portion, such as for example a dull surface, of a tool to facilitate more consistent sharpening or shimming of the tool. A tool or workpiece is understood as sharp if the tool is adapted to cutting or piercing or has a comparatively thin keen edge or fine point.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 a parallel surface jig, indicated generally at 20, according to the invention. The illustrated parallel surface jig 20 includes a base 24 and an arm 28 secured to the base 24 by a first shoulder bolt 32 and a second shoulder bolt 36. The term “bolt” is understood to include structures which are generally like or have a bar, rod, pin or cylinder. The first shoulder bolt 32 and the second shoulder bolt 36 are stabilizing means for the arm 28. The term “stabilizing” is understood to include structures or capacity for holding generally steady. The arm 28 is moveably connected to the first shoulder bolt 32 and the second shoulder bolt 36. The arm 28 may be slid along the available length of the first shoulder bolt 32 and the second shoulder bolt 36.

The base 24 is shown positioned on a granite table 40. Granite tables are employed in tool and die applications for their ability to resist warping and maintain a generally flat surface. Granite tables tend to have relatively few, if any, raised areas or depressions and also have a relatively smooth or even surface. It is this surface of the granite table that supports the base 24. The granite table 40 provides a type of plane of reference from which parallelism may be measured and/or established. Any suitable table, plane of reference, or the like may be employed.

The base 24, best seen in FIGS. 2 through 4, may include a beveled edge 44 around the periphery of a top surface 48 of the base 24. The top surface 48 of the base 24 is shown generally parallel to the surface of the granite table 40. The base 24 may also include a groove 52 around the periphery of a mid-portion of the base 24 to facilitate handling and/or positioning of the base 24. The groove 52 is aesthetically pleasing and is useful particularly when the base 24 is portable. The illustrated base 24 also includes a first hole 56 and a second hole 60. The first hole 56 is provided to support the first shoulder bolt 32. The second hole 60 is provided to support the second shoulder bolt 36. The illustrated first hole 56 and second hole 60 do not go all the way through the base 24, but instead may seat on the ledge provided.

The arm 28, best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, includes a first hole 64 and a second hole 68. The first hole 64 and the second hole 68 of the arm 28 may be generally aligned with the first hole 56 and the second hole 60 of the base 24 to facilitate placement of the first shoulder bolt 32 and the second shoulder bolt 36. The illustrated arm 28 also includes a depression 72 therein. The first hole 64 and the second hole 68 support the first shoulder bolt 32 and the second shoulder bolt 36, respectively. It will be appreciated that the illustrated first hole 64 and the second hole 68 go all the way through the arm 28. The depression 72 is provided to support a magnet 76.

The arm 28 is a holding means for a workpiece 84. The arm 28 includes a receiving surface 80. The receiving surface 80 of the arm 28 may be spaced apart from the magnet 76. The magnet 76 is a pulling means. Other suitable pulling means may be employed. An electromagnet may also be employed as a pulling means. The term “electromagnet” is understood to include a magnet which has a coil of wire wrapped around a suitable metal core that is magnetized when current flows through the wire. A vacuum may also be employed as a pulling means. The term “vacuum” is understood to include an area in which the air pressure is below that of the surrounding atmospheric pressure. When a vacuum is employed, there may be provided one or more holes in the receiving surface 80 to allow the vacuum to act on the workpiece 84.

The illustrated arm 28 is adjustable along a vertical axis. The illustrated arm 28 may be adjusted up and down and may be provided with a tightening means 88 to selectively fix the arm 28 in a desired position. A third hole 92 may be provided to support the tightening means 88. The tightening means 88 may be used to selectively decrease and increase the diameter or other such dimension of the first hole 64 and the second hole 68 to selectively tighten and loosen the fit of the arm 28 with the first shoulder bolt 32 and the second shoulder bolt 36. The first shoulder bolt 32 and the second shoulder bolt 36 prevent the arm 28 from rotating horizontally. The first shoulder bolt 32 and the second shoulder bolt 36 may also provide rigidity to the arm 28.

Referring also to FIG. 7, the workpiece 84 has a work surface 96. The work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 is positioned generally flush with the receiving surface 80 of the arm 28. When the work surface 96 is generally flat, as is the case with the workpiece 84 shown in FIG. 7, positioning the work surface 96 generally flush with the receiving surface 80 of the arm 28 assures that the work surface 96 is generally parallel to a work surface 100 of the granite table 40. This is because receiving surface 80 of the arm 28 is generally parallel to the work surface 100 of the granite table 40. Because the work surface 100 of the granite table 40 defines a plane of reference, the work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 is oriented generally parallel to the plane of reference. The work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 is held in position by the magnet 76 or other suitable holding means.

Referring also to FIGS. 8 and 9, the workpiece 84 is being held in a desired position by a sine vise 98 with the work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 generally parallel to the work surface 100 of the granite table 40. The sine vise 98 is one suitable holding apparatus. A precision vise may also be employed. It will be appreciated that the sine vice is employed to hold and/or position the work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 in a desired orientation or position. However because the magnet 76 is holding the work surface 96 generally parallel to the work surface 100 of the granite table 40, the sine vice is not needed to position the workpiece 84 with respect to the arm 28.

Referring also to FIG. 10, once the work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 is oriented generally parallel to the plane of reference, the workpiece 84 can be moved into position with respect to a grinding wheel 104 for sharpening. It will be noted that the setup, such as for example the workpiece 84 and the holding apparatus holding the workpiece 84, can be moved into position with respect to the grinding wheel 104 for sharpening. It will be appreciated that the parallelism of the work surface 100 of the granite table 40 has been transferred to the work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 for a more precise sharpening with the grinding wheel 104.

The grinding wheel 104 may be employed with a magnetic table 108 as shown. For sharpening, the workpiece 84 may be moved back and forth laterally, as shown by arrows 112 and 116. As the grinding wheel 104 spins, as shown by arrow 120, the grinding wheel 104 acts on the work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 to grind, and thereby sharpen or otherwise act on, the work surface 96. The sine vise 98 is removed from FIG. 10 for purposes of clarity. It will be appreciated that the work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 is still oriented generally parallel to the plane of reference even though the workpiece 84 is not shown supported by the work surface 100 of the granite table 40. Little or no nudging of the workpiece 84, or “trial and error” in the positioning of the workpiece 84 for sharpening or processing, is necessary with use of the present invention. In operation, the grinding wheel 104 may be employed to grind the work surface 96 and thereby sharpen the workpiece 84. The invention is useful for orienting the work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 to the receiving surface 80 of the holding means, such as the arm 28.

It will be appreciated that a block of a predetermined dimension, or other suitable standard, can be placed between work surface 100 of the granite table 40 and the receiving surface 80 of the arm 28. The first shoulder bolt 32 and the second shoulder bolt 36 and the tightening means 88 assist to selectively fix the arm 28 in a desired position and/or height.

Referring now to FIG. 6 a, an alternate embodiment of the arm 28 a is shown. The arm 28 a functions in an analogous fashion to the arm 28 shown in FIG. 6. It will be noted that the receiving surface 80 a of the arm 28 a includes a holding region 81 a. The receiving surface 80 of the arm 28 shown in FIG. 6 is generally planar. The receiving surface 80 a of the arm 28 a shown in FIG. 6 is shown generally parallel with the holding region 81 a. The holding region 81 a allows the magnet 76, or other suitable pulling means, to pull the work surface 96 of the workpiece 84 generally flush with the holding region 81 a even when the workpiece 84 may be other than generally flat. For example, the workpiece 84 may have an inconveniently located weld bead on or near the work surface 96 to be sharpened. The workpiece 84 may also be irregularly shaped. The configuration of the arm 28 a allows flexibility in the sharpening or processing of the work surface 96 for an irregularly shaped work piece 84 or a portion of the work piece 84 that can not be accommodated on the arm 28 shown in FIG. 6.

The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been described in specific embodiments. However, it should be noted that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its scope. 

1. A device for orienting a work surface of a workpiece comprising: a holding means having a receiving surface fixed generally parallel to a plane of reference; and a pulling means for orienting the work surface of the workpiece to the receiving surface of the holding means.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the plane of reference is provided on a base.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the receiving surface of the holding means is generally flat.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the pulling means is a magnet.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the pulling means is an electro magnet.
 6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a stabilizing means to stabilize the holding means.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the stabilizing means is a bolt.
 8. The device of claim 6 wherein the holding means in moveably connected to the stabilizing means.
 9. A method of sharpening a workpiece comprising: providing a holding means having a receiving surface generally parallel to a plane of reference; providing a pulling means for orienting the work surface of the workpiece to the receiving surface of the holding means, wherein the work surface of the workpiece is sharpened.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the work surface of the workpiece is positioned generally parallel to the plane of reference.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the pulling means is a magnet.
 12. The method of claim 9 further comprising a stabilizing means.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the holding means is moveably connected to a stabilizing means.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising positioning the holding means at a predetermined height with respect to the plane of reference.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the plane of reference is the surface of a table.
 16. A device for orienting a work surface of a workpiece comprising: a holding means having a receiving surface fixed generally parallel to a plane of reference; a holding region on the holding means; and a pulling means for orienting the work surface of the workpiece to the receiving surface of the holding means.
 17. The device of claim 16 wherein the holding region is generally parallel to the receiving surface of the holding means.
 18. The device of claim 16 further comprising a stabilizing means wherein the holding means is moveably connected to the stabilizing means.
 19. The device of claim 18 wherein the stabilizing means is a bolt.
 20. The device of claim 16 wherein the holding region is generally flat 